Chocoholics Anonymous meeting in session...

My name is Jen and I am a chocoholic...Hi Jen!

I am not talking to chocoholics that are like, "Oh, I only eat the best chocolate or no chocolate at all." I am talking to those of you who crave that sweet and smoothe taste at a few different points throughout your day. That is me! Can you relate to this?

You've just finished a very satisfying lunch or dinner. It was healthy, filling and satisfied all of your taste buds...except those darn chocoholic ones! Here is our solution!!!!

Listen, I am not crazy! You need to have two of these a day (40 calories total) for your daily calcium intake. So it is perfect right after lunch for that sweet craving and right after dinner too. I LOVE milk, but as I have cut back on calories I also have cut back on my milk intake. This is a perfect way to get something I need and something I want all at the same time!

Thanks Costco demonstrators!

No, I am not getting any sort of monetary kickback for the last two posts about Costco. Although I'd be open to it if they wanted to!

Dear Costco,

Dear Costco,
Let me just begin by telling you that I am a very loyal shopper and feel giddy when my soles hit your concrete floor. Recently I have been looking for healthy alternatives for my family and have come across many in your wide, hugh aisles.
However, a few of the foods that have become a staple in my home have not seen your shelf in the last couple of weeks. I am beginning to panic! These are my "go to" foods that taste good and help me stay on track! First, you continue to sell Sabra Classic Hummus in large containers. But I fell in love with the 150 Cal 2 ounce containers. Have you people tried to dip pretzels in them? Please bring them back!
The second item that I am mourning the loss of is the Morningstar Original Veggie Burger. Sure you continue to carry the Boca Burger, but I ate one and had an awful aftertaste in my mouth for the next 12 hours! Throwing a veggie burger on your Orowheat Whole Grain Sandwich Thins are a very satisfying little treat.
I know I can hunt these items down at other stores, but do I really want to? No. I would love for you to just kindly put them back on your shelves and all will be well.
Thanks!

A Happy Ending to my Funny Story!

So you recently read about my TRUE hilarious story (hopefully you read it)! It does not end there my friends! I happen to be back at Anthro and I see it again...heartbeat...look at tag...uh!it is now marked down to $39.99!...size XL! I'm trying it on...
I BETTER NOT GET STUCK IN THIS ONE!
Yay!
It is too big!
Make purchase.
Go to tailor, pin waiste and arms.
Pay $20.
Pick up on Friday.
I JUST LOVE A HAPPY ENDING!
Small print: If I am feeling good...you will see a picture in my perfect frock!

~true story, funny story~

ahhhhh- vacation!

The first thing I do when I have a moment to myself is go shopping. We are in Southern California. The weather is a balmy 75 degrees and Fashion Island is beckoning to me! I peruse all of the stores I normally do not get to fancy (Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Z Gallerie) and then I see it...my favorite store of all time...Anthropologie!

Do I begin in the kitchen? Oh the accessories are adorable, maybe I should stop there first! That coat is to die for, should I just try it on now? Oh,oh,oh! The sale "room"! Most stores have a sale rack, this store has an entire room!

There it is! I see it! And it is on sale! Regularly$128, now $64. It is a starched silk shirt dress. It is black and white plaid with a full skirt. It has the greatest shape and texture and I am in love!

Checking through the four that they have...small, small, small, ooooh medium! I've lost weight (25 lbs to be exact!) I can wear a medium...easy! Oh no! The zipper is broken and they are selling it "as is". I am petite. This dress is full. I am trying the small!

It goes on easy. Oh My Goodness! It is the dress I have been dreaming of. Cute enough for church with tights and flats, dressy enough for a party with hose and heels. I...am...in...love!

Uh-oh, the zipper will not go up. Now that I mention it, it doesn't fit at all! Okay, okay, okay it is not working out at all. Get it off me quick so that I will not elongate my disappointment! As I pull it up over my head...it is STUCK! er, er, er...move, move, move...it is still STUCK! Okay, I cannot move and the dress is stuck on my arms over my head and I am naked from the neck down (I am wearing my underclothes). Crud! I am starting to not be able to breathe and this dress is permanently STUCK. My arms are starting to go numb over my head and I can't see a thing. I am beginning to panic since I am somewhat claustrophobic!

Just then I hear, "Jenny, how is that dress working out for you?" The salespeople are so nice at my favorite store! They even write your name on a quaint little mirror outside your dressing room so they can be sure to call you by your name. :) I reply, "uh...well...it is too small...and...uh...I am stuck." I hear a little giggle, "Oh, do you need another size?" I am really beginning to get light headed now, partly from my arms above my head NUMB and the lack of oxygen.

"No, actually I just need help getting unstuck."

The look on this sweet young girls face must've been priceless! Of course, I could not see it since I was in a mound of gorgeous black and white plaid prison! With a little yanking and tugging, my size 0 hero helped me to freedom. I have never gotten out of a store so quickly in my life! I wasn't even done browsing! (Don't worry, I did go back!) All the while thinking of the broken zipper on the size medium and wondering if someone else, somewhere got stuck in their dream dress too!

Keep sticking to it because I am not yet a size small!!!

Meaningful choices

In the book French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano it says, "Making choices that are meaningful to you is the essence of the French woman's secret."

Yesterday I did not do that at all. I was famished all day. After the kids got out of school, I found a leftover container of cheese tortellini. I wolfed down a cup full (yes I measured). THIS WAS NOT A MEANINGFUL CHOICE! I WAS NOT CHANNELING MY INNER FRENCH WOMAN! I don't even like tortellini!

So fast forward to last night... A church Christmas dinner event...Homemade tamales, homemade refried beans, homemade Mexican rice. I DID NOT HAVE ONE BITE! I was regretting my foolish afterschool binge because tasting this authentic Mexican fare would have been so much more a meaningful choice !

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I have been hosting a Holiday cookie exchange every year for the past six years. I love to bake at Christmastime! This year I decided to choose a cookie that would not tempt me. I chose Biscotti. My mom and I spent the entire day baking loaves and cutting them. I will dip them in chocolate and be done. Guess what? There are a lot of unuseable end pieces! And guess what else? They are good! My preplanning failed a bit...

How are you getting through holiday celebrations without guilt?

Tales from 5:30am Workouts :)

~ One particular morning I saw some eye candy. Now I am not peaking into windows, but when I stroll by (in the dark) when the rooms are lit..well...you know. I didn't see this before,nor since, but one morning in two seperate houses I saw men...buff men...with their shirts off (maybe other items off too). One was making coffee while the other ironed clothes. Hehehehe...
~ This past week I rolled out of bed and grabbed the first sweats I could find. Lights off I pulled them on and went out to walk/run. I've been incorporating jogging into my workout now. One thing I've learned is jogging does not work when YOUR PANTS FALL DOWN! That is right, my sweats are now too big and they slithered down my thighs. I completed my full workout, but had to hold up my pants while doing it! Do you think anyone happen to be peaking out of the window at 5:40am???? NAH!
~Who would've thought my neighborhood would be so scandalous before 6AM!

Music as Motivation

My workouts definately depend most on the music that I am listening to. I am not one to watch tv or chat while working out. First off, my heart rate is directly related to the beat of the music. Second, when I find myself getting into a workout rut I buy another song or two. It is amazing how good music has even coaxed me out of bed on a cold morning.

I organize my workout music on my iphone into workout playlists. I group them into 30-40 minute playlists with warm up, cardio, and cool down songs. Below are some of my favorite workout songs...I'd love to get your favorite workout songs too!

~ Cardio with upbeat~ mostly pop so it tells a story to keep my mind off of my misery and so I can sing along in my head~

• Sk8er Boy- Avril Lavine
• Dance, Dance- Fall Out Boy
• How Far We've Come- Matchbox Twenty
• Know Your Enemy-Green Day
• I Gotta Feeling- Black Eyed Peas
• Party In The USA- Miley Cyrus

~Running/Elliptical/Spinning hill climb~ steady beat that gradually builds to encourage speed~

• Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol (my all-time favorite workout song)
• Rush- Aly & AJ (Good speed on chorus)
• Collide- Howie Day (my all-time favorite everything song!!!)
• Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (blast from the past, but great encouragement!)
• Come Back To Me- David Cook
• Sometime Around Midnight- The Airborne Toxic Event
• Meet Me Halfway- Black Eyed Peas
• Viva La Vida- Coldplay

~ Warm up/Cool Down~

• Forever Young- Alphaville
• Beautiful Day- U2 (Live)
• No Air- Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown